01.16. The Sermon on the Mount (24)
The Sermon on the Mount (24) The Single and the Evil Eye
Matthew 6:22-23 The Eye as Mirror of the Human Heart
’The light of the body is the eye.’ In Matthew 6:19-21 the Lord Jesus spoke of two kinds of treasures the human heart may hang on to. Now he is talking about two kinds of ’heart-conditions’. He therefore uses the picture of the eye and this again he compares to a lamp.
Lamps are used to give light. Now we cannot say of the eye that it gives light but rather that it takes in the light. The parallel drawn by the Lord Jesus between the lamp and the eye is that the functioning of a shining lamp and that of a good eye lead up to similar results: both of them help men to recognise their surroundings. The better the lamp the brighter the lamp shines and the better the eye the better one can see. Of course the opposite is just a true: as a bad lamp gives poor light so a man with bad eyesight or even blind eyes is not able to see much or even nothing at all. This will be very detrimental to his whole body. Such is the first meaning of the introductory words of the Lord: ’The light of the body is the eye.’ But the Lord Jesus does not teach his disciples about the human eye but rather about the heart which he did already mention in John 6:21 : ’For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.’ In Scripture the eye is very often used to depict the inner condition of men. The Word of God speaks of ’haughty eyes’ (JND) and of ’high looks’ (Psalms 18:27; Psalms 101:5), of ’blinded eyes’ (1 John 2:11), of ’eyes with no fear of God’ (Psalms 36:1), of ’evil eyes’ (Matthew 20:15; Mark 7:22) and of ’eyes that are not satisfied with riches’ (Ecclesiastes 4:8), but also of ’enlightened eyes’ (Psalms 19:8) and of a ’bountiful eye’ (Proverbs 22:9). The eye therefore doss not only take in impressions from the outside but it also reflects-and often clearly visible-the condition of the human heart. The following references will make clear the link between the heart and the eye: ’Him that hath an high look and a proud heart will not I suffer.’ (Psalms 101:5)-’Lord, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty.’ (Psalms 131:1) ’An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing (JND: lamp, tillage, prosperity) of the wicked, is sin.’ (Proverbs 21:4). So here the eye is seen as mirror and expression of the human heart. The Single Heart
’If therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.’ The word ’single’ must be understood as ’plain, pure’. In the whole New Testament it only appears here and in the parallel-reference in Luke 11:34-36. The corresponding noun ’singleness’ (JND: simplicity) appears more often. Ephesians 6:5 and Colossians 3:22 speak of the singleness of the heart and in 2 Corinthians 1:12; 2 Corinthians 11:3 of the simplicity before God and the Christ. These references show clearly what the words ’single’ and ’simplicity’ mean. It is the simplicity and singleness of the heart marked by love and confidence which will not suffer any sin (and be it doubting or wicked ulterior motives) to mar our relation with our Lord and our God and Father. If the look of our eyes is unclouded the whole body will be profiting of it and if the heart is single towards Christ the spiritual life will be full of light. This very light has it’s source in God. It helps the youngest believer to understand the Word of God and to put it into practice in his life. It gives clarity and strength to follow a path step by step. It helps us in the difficulties of life (which will not be spared to any disciple of the Lord) to recognise his leading and his hand in them. He will bestow this divine light upon every disciple of his who has the sincere desire to follow him in faithfulness and whose heart is filled with ’the simplicity as to the Christ’ (JND).
Surely the apostle Paul thought of the simplicity of heart when he prayed that God may enlighten the eyes of the Ephesians’ heart (JND) so that they would know more and more what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of his inheritance and the greatness of his power (Ephesians 1:18). In 2 Corinthians 8:1-24; 2 Corinthians 9:1-15 Paul encourages his readers to do good works we find a special kind of simplicity of heart. Three times ’liberality’ (JND only) is mentioned in this connection where it should literally read ’simplicity’. Does this not shade special light on our paragraph where the disciples are warned against striving after treasures and riches upon earth and where they are encouraged to put their trust in their Father which is in heaven? The Evil Body
’But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!’ These words remind us of the verse we already mentioned in Proverbs 21:4 which says that a high look and a proud heart are the ’lamp of the wicked, that is the sinner. What a terrible fate if a man is able to see his surroundings only in this ’light’! The Lord Jesus mentions the expression ’an evil eye’ in other connections also (see Matthew 20:15; Mark 7:22). There the evil eye is the visible proof for an envious, jealous heart. If our heart is filled with envy, pride or other evil things then our entire life is, so to speak, ’clouded’ with darkness. We do not only deprive ourselves of every true joy in the Lord but we also loose the discernment as to ourselves and our surroundings. This is the significance of the figurative words of the Lord: ’But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness.’
’If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!’ Each born again disciple of the Lord has received the light of life by God. This light enlightens his own life and it shines as a testimony for God. In order for it to shine the heart needs to be single. But if the heart of the believer is filled with evil thoughts darkness does indeed prevail instead of light. The light which is in the believer has so to speak become darkness. Of the unbelievers the Word of God says that they are in the darkness and are themselves darkness. But a man who (and has by grace received the light of God and is in this wonderful light) stands in opposition to it will be even more condemned because he knows better or should know better. Experience however shows: If the light that is in a child of God has become darkness he will be able to do things which even a morally upright unbeliever would be ashamed of. Are we honestly able to say while looking at the glory and at Christ: ’This one thing I do’? What does your eye look upon? Which way do you go? God only has the one way which is Christ.
A. Remmers
1 As the Greek word brw/sij (translated: ’rust’) first of all describes the action of eating (for men or animals) some translators would translate it as an devouring insect (in connection with the moth mentioned in the previous verse).